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National Storytelling Week: Encouraging a Love of Reading in the Playground

  • amy7371
  • 7 days ago
  • 3 min read

Updated: 18 hours ago

National Storytelling Week: 2nd - 8th February 2026


National Storytelling Week is the perfect opportunity for schools and early years settings to reflect on how stories are shared, experienced and enjoyed. While reading is often associated with the classroom, the playground can be just as powerful a place for storytelling, literacy and imagination.


By thoughtfully designing outdoor spaces, schools can encourage children to read for pleasure, collaborate through shared stories and develop key communication skills — all while enjoying the benefits of being outdoors.


Why Reading Outdoors Matters

Reading outside removes many of the pressures children associate with formal learning. In the playground, stories become relaxed, social and exciting rather than something that feels “set work”.


Outdoor reading helps children to:

  • Feel calmer and more focused

  • Engage with stories in a less structured way

  • Develop language, listening and communication skills

  • Use imagination and creativity through storytelling and role play


For reluctant readers in particular, the change of environment can make a huge difference.



Creating Dedicated Storytelling Spaces



One of the most effective ways to promote reading outside is by creating clearly defined storytelling areas. These spaces signal to children that reading belongs in the playground too.


Popular features include:


Storytelling spaces encourage children to gather, listen, take turns and share ideas — all key elements of early literacy development.



Outdoor Furniture That Invites Reading



Comfort matters. Children are far more likely to choose reading if the environment feels welcoming.


Well-placed outdoor furniture can:

  • Create quiet reading zones away from high-energy play

  • Encourage small-group or paired reading

  • Support independent reading during break and lunch times


Moveable seating like Mobile Benches, Grass Top Seats and Picnic Tables help turn unused corners of the playground into purposeful literacy spaces.



Bringing Stories to Life Through Play



Reading doesn’t always have to involve sitting still with a book. Outdoor environments are ideal for story-led play, where children act out narratives, invent characters and build their own stories.


By combining storytelling areas with:

children naturally develop storytelling skills while playing — strengthening comprehension, vocabulary and confidence without realising they’re “learning”.



Making Reading a Social Experience



Outdoor reading encourages collaboration, conversation, and the development of friendships between peers.


Children are more likely to:

  • Read aloud together

  • Retell familiar stories

  • Invent sequels and alternative endings


Storytelling in the playground supports peer learning and helps children who may struggle with traditional reading lessons to engage in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.



Supporting Curriculum & EYFS Outcomes



Reading is also a vital part of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) so it important that outdoor spaces are tailored accordingly, to encourage reading and literacy development from the beginning.


Outdoor storytelling supports key curriculum areas, including:

  • Communication and Language

  • Literacy

  • Expressive Arts and Design

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development


By embedding reading opportunities into the playground, schools can extend learning beyond the classroom and make literacy part of everyday play. This can be through adding storytelling areas, where children can have free access to self-select reading materials, mark-making spaces to inspire creativity, or even by incorporating wording around the playground like with a Playground Signpost.



Ready to Encourage Reading Outdoors?

This National Storytelling Week, take storytelling beyond the classroom and into the playground. A well-designed outdoor space can inspire a lifelong love of reading — one story at a time.


Contact The Playground Company today to book your free site visit.



 
 
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